Ian Dean, editor of 3D World magazine, said: "It's been a long time coming since Pixar revealed it's plans for RenderMan, but to be able to get a complete version of RenderMan for free, to experiment with and experience, is a must for anyone. It's a great opportunity for the CG community and signals some wider changes to how we all pay for and use software."

Pixar has dubbed it's free release Non-Commercial RenderMan and it comes with some caveats -

Non-Commercial RenderMan can be used for research, education, evaluation, plug-in development, and any personal projects that do not generate commercial profits.

Free Non-Commercial RenderMan is also fully featured, without watermark, time limits, or other user limitations.

In conjunction with the release, Pixar has also launched a RenderMan community site where artists can share knowledge, resources and showcase their work.

The CG Awards 2015

The CG Awards 2015 recognises the work of the entire industry: from software and hardware to artists and technicians. This year's awards are now open for nominations, so you can put forward your candidates right now. Just visit thecgawards.com and nominate in one of the 17 categories.